Politicians in Northern Ireland have backed a motion which described a ban on a controversial Orange Order parade on the Ardoyne flashpoint in Belfast as “illogical”.

Politicians in Northern Ireland today backed a motion which described a ban on a controversial Orange Order parade as “illogical”.

Seventy-one police officers have been injured in four nights of rioting in the North linked to the banning of a contentious Orange Order parade.

First Minister Peter Robinson tonight accused Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly of reckless behaviour after he was seen clinging to the bonnet of a moving Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Landrover.

Rival politicians have been urged to step back from tit-for-tat rows after a Sinn Fein minister was injured during a contentious parade in Northern Ireland.

The leader of the British National Party, MEP Nick Griffin, has refused to apologise for a tweet in which he referred to “Fenian bastards” — even though in the past he has claimed his ancestors came from a village in North Cork.

A 25-year-old man is due to appear at Magistrates Court in Belfast later, charged in connection with rioting in Ardoyne on the 12th of July following an Orange Order parade.

Nationalist residents and the Orange Order have said they are not expecting trouble ahead of today's contentious Whiterock parade.

Three children injured in a bomb attack in the North had a miraculous escape, police said today.

There were appeals for calm today as a major loyal order parade took place in the North.

There were nationalist protests today as a loyal order parade passed a sectarian flashpoint in Belfast.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams held talks with leading loyalists today aimed at defusing tensions over controversial parades.

Orange Order marches and respect for diverse cultures must form part of a future united Ireland, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams told a special event at Westminster tonight.

Up to 500,000 people are expected to take to the streets of the North today as the Orange Order marching season reaches its pinnacle.

A controversial Orange Order parade passed off peacefully in Belfast today, but a senior official called for talks to end the deadlock over future marches.

A loyalist ceasefire in North is to be recognised, the Northern Ireland Secretary said today.

Nationalist residents have poured cold water on hopes of a breakthrough in the long-running dispute over the annual Orange Order march at Drumcree.

The annual Drumcree Orange Order parade has taken place in the North today.

“THINGS fall apart, the centre cannot hold, mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,” — well the fallout from the Belfast Assembly poll is not quite as bad as WB Yeats’s words suggest, but he was spot-on about the middle ground parties going south.

I WISH to express my agreement with Donal O’Driscoll (Irish Examiner letters, November 27) concerning Dr Ian Paisley.

Nationalists in Portadown have asked the Parades Commission to review its decision not to impose any restrictions on an Orange Order march in the Co Armagh town this weekend.

The annual Orange Order parade at Drumcree in Co Armagh is to take place today.

Loyalists and nationalists in Belfast were today breathing a sigh of relief after a contentious Protestant Orange Order march passed peacefully in the west of the city.

The political process will be in serious trouble unless Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern take decisive action during talks in Belfast next week, it was claimed today.

Nationalist residents in north Belfast have reached an historic deal with local loyalists that both sides hope will lead to a peaceful marching season this summer.

IN THE aftermath of Saturday’s riots in Dublin, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said that it was known in his constituency on Friday that trouble was likely at the Orange Order march.

THE Ulster Defence Association was formally accused yesterday of gunning down one of its former brigadiers, Jim Gray.

More than 20 police officers are still on sick leave after the ferocious rioting in Belfast earlier this year, it was revealed tonight.

The DUP has revealed it plans a second series of demands before it considers whether it will share power with Sinn Féin.

HARDLINE republican terror groups tried to coax weapons from Provisional IRA members after the organisation announced an end to its armed campaign.

Hardline republican terror groups tried to coax weapons from Provisional IRA members after the organisation announced an end to its armed campaign, it was claimed today.

Northern Ireland’s most senior policeman Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde today rejected claims by unionists that his officers were failing to be even handed when policing parades protests.

Progress towards completing police reforms in the North has been let down by lack of political backing, a watchdog report said today.

The North's Police Ombudsman has received more than 50 complaints in relation to the PSNI's handling of recent loyalist violence in Belfast and surrounding areas.

The unionist members of the Belfast District Policing Partnership are planning to boycott future meetings in protest at the handling of loyalist riots in the city.

There was fresh trouble in Belfast tonight as police pledged to get tough with loyalist demonstrators who have caused major disruption for days.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan has launched a blistering attack on Northern Secretary Peter Hain and the leaders of the two main unionist parties over their attitude to loyalist violence.

The British government has announced that it no longer recognises the Ulster Volunteer Force ceasefire.

Police in the North have arrested a total of 63 people in connection with the past three nights of rioting in Belfast and surrounding areas.

A painter and decorator was allegedly caught with seven guns at the height of loyalist rioting that has engulfed Belfast, a court heard today.

BEHIND the scenes pressure was mounting on the IRA to finally deliver on decommissioning last night as loyalist rioters again threatened to plunge the North into chaos.

Northern Secretary Peter Hain is due to meet PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde today to discuss the loyalist riots in Belfast at the weekend.

THIRTY two police officers were injured after loyalist terrorists unleashed one of the "most dangerous riots" across Belfast and beyond, Chief Constable Hugh Orde revealed last night.

There are fears that violence may escalate tonight after clashes between police and loyalists today in Belfast.